ENGINEERING DIFFICULTIES 55 
design that weighed only a quarter of the former one. Field 
had to act as a dictator and undoubtedly offended some of the 
British associates but he was impatient for results. 
It was gradually recognized that laying a cable two thou- 
sand miles long in water up to three miles deep was largely 
an engineering problem. The British engineers, overawed 
by the magnitude of the task, had originally designed a ma- 
chine too heavy and ponderous in its action. Handling a 
cable that was actually too light and weak, this bulky appara- 
tus had stopped progress and delayed matters a year. It is 
not strange, however, that technical mistakes were made at 
first; it is surprising that not more of them were made, when 
the pioneer nature of the work is considered. ‘There was some 
working at cross purposes, but Field managed to bring to- 
gether the various factions. He assumed a domineering atti- 
tude for the time. 
To help improve the new cable-laying machine, a gentle- 
man in London, named J. G. Appold, suggested self-releasing 
brakes similar to an apparatus used in jails and prisons. ‘These 
-could be adjusted to stand only a regulated strain before they 
released themselves. As adapted by Bright, this device pre- 
vented a sudden check and insured smoother operation. It 
was an important aid. When the new machine was demon- 
strated before a group of engineers, their opinion was that a 
great advance had been made. 
As an instance of the unforeseen difficulties constantly aris- 
ing in such an unprecedented undertaking, news came to 
London that the American steamer, the Susquehanna, which 
had assisted the Niagara during the first attempt, could not 
come again, as it was in the West Indies and yellow fever had 
broken out on board. Rising to the occasion, Field called 
a cab, drove to the British Admiralty, and sent in his card to 
Sir John Pakington, First Lord of the Admiralty. Admitted 
at once, he explained his predicament, saying that although 
he was ashamed to ask for more aid, another ship had to be 
